Angel felt it when Nadia gained consciousness. Her body jerked in his arms and then went rigid. She then slowly relaxed her body and he felt her trembling. The way he held her, her face was pressed to his chest and his big body eclipsed hers so much so that all she could see was his broad chest.
"Did you sleep with her? With that bitch, Elena?" Nadia whispered against his pectorals. Her voice carried so much sadness his heart tightened.
"Did you perceive my scent on her, my dear mate?" Angel replied, burying his face in her hair. His voice was low and gruff.
"No…" Nadia replied and she clutched the fabric of his shirt where her hand lay.
"There you have your answer. I don't want any other, Nadia," Angel said, pressing his lips to her hair.
"Why then do you leave me every night…" Nadia asked in a raspy voice thick with feelings.
"Because I want you and you told me you don't want me."
"You know I didn't mean it."
"I have to respect your words, Nadie," he said and took a shaky breath when she went very quiet.
"Angel?" she called in a hesitant voice. Angel shut his eyes tightly, and in reflex, his arms around her tightened as well.
"Yes, my darling," he rasped.
"I had a really scary dream," she whispered and he heard the fear in her words. Angel clenched his jaw and pressed a kiss to her hair. "I dreamt … I dreamt I was with child and then he … um faded from my arms…. Please, please tell me it was a dream."
"I am so sorry, Nadia," Angel said and felt her grow very still. She then started to struggle to withdraw from him and he let her go. Her eyes darted around and it dawned where they were. The memories came back like a sledgehammer in the guts, her chest heaved as she panted. Lowering her eyes to her hands, she couldn't see that it was cleaned, she saw them dripping with blood. A gasp escaped her lips and she gingerly parted her legs, noting she felt sore and was wearing padded pants. The memory of the pain in her stomach gnawed at her and it dawned.
"No! No. No. No!" she started to mutter. Angel reached for her and held her face.
"Look at me," he urged fervently.
"I remember the pain. T – those Weres they… they… Oh, my God! I lost our baby?! I lost our baby. I lost our baby! I lost our baby…" she repeatedly cry in hysterics. Angel felt his eyes blurred with tears. If he was in doubt before that Nadia loved him, the remnant of the feeling dissolved into nothingness. She was torn about the news just as he was. The anguish was hatched all over her beautiful face. Angel pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. He cupped her chin to bring her lips close to his and he whispered, "I know nothing can replace the one we just lost. He was supposed to be the first fruit of our love, but my darling, we are going to have another, and another and another---"
"Angel…" Nadia cried brokenly, clutching his shirt.
"Baby, I will give you as many as you want. I promise. I love you, Nadia," Angel said before taking her lips. Nadia shook with tears and when he stopped kissing her, she clung to him.
"I'm sorry, Angel," she cried.
"No. I am sorry. I did a poor job protecting you. It will not happen again."
"I don't want to reject you," she whispered in tears.
"I know, baby," Angel whispered back.
"I love you," she whispered.
"Haaa, sweet Nadie, of course, you do, why else would you be here? I am a fucking Moron," Angel rasped and took her lips again.
Minutes later, Amelie, Xavier, Cole, Isabelle, Tiana, Hallec, Opaline, Wulfrun, Darrow, and Jason with the seven Weres Angel escaped with came to see them. When the ladies drew Nadia out from Angel's arms so they could hug her, he pressed a kiss to her lips and got off the bed. Xavier gestured to him to follow him and the male Weres filed outside.
Xavier pulled Angel into a tight embrace and patted him behind his head. Cole gave him a friendly pat on the chest and Wulfrun pulled him into a hug.
"I'm sorry, brother," Wulfrun muttered. Angel nodded.
Darrow, Jason, and Hallec offered him handshakes and the rest of his friends circled him to give him a group hug.
"Sorry, man," Kurt said. Angel sighed, nodding.
"I think we need to let everyone that survived Antonio Rufus know that we would not be here if not for Miss Nadia," Odwolf said.
"And let them know if anyone tries this shit again, death would be a merciful end," Blaze growled..
"I agree we call a meeting. I can't have Weres going rogue. I am Alexander Miller's son, my father played a nasty part in incarcerating some of them. If anyone tries to attack me or Isabelle for payback. I'm sorry Xavier. There will be a lot of dead Weres!" Cole said. Xavier sighed.
"You are right. We will call a meeting and not just for the newly released Weres, but for everybody who might feel obliged to get revenge for their kin. We have a rule in this pack. We don't attack each other. We most definitely do not kill each other. We are a family. If we let our instincts run wild then the enemies were right about us being animals on two legs. We put to death Weres that attack other Weres. I had a mate once who killed three of our pack members, I didn't blink before I ended her myself. I don't play favourites when it comes to the rules. I need everyone to get on board with that.."
Angel gazed at Xavier with respite and so did every Were standing there.
"I am so sorry, brother," Xavier added, facing Angel, "I can not begin to imagine what you are going through right now. I assure you, this will never happen again."